The Top 10 Masters in Educational Administration Degree Programs

Individuals pursuing the Master’s degree in Educational Administration plan to go beyond teaching in the classroom, striving towards an administrative role in public or private schools or school district administrative offices. Some students pursuing a Master’s in Educational Administration want to serve as a leader and administrator of an entire school district or work for their state department of education.

Choosing the Master’s in Educational Administration degree requires more than the commitment on the part of the student. One crucial point to consider is finding the best college or university offering the Master of Educational Administration degree. The methodology for selecting these Top 10 Master’s in Educational Administration degree programs includes the following important factors:

10. University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The school ranked 11th in the country for best value in tuition, according to the UW site.

The Master of Arts with Educational Administration option prepares graduates for opportunities to serve in a leadership position in a K-12 environment as well as the potential for certification as a K-12 principal. Another option for students pursuing a Master’s in Education Administration at the University of Wyoming is the M.A. in Education, Educational Administration, Adult and Postsecondary Education. This specialization prepares students to work in leadership positions in the adult education or postsecondary education system. Graduates may also work in for-profit or not-for-profit organizations.

U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, and Forbes have all ranked UW among the best colleges and universities in the U.S.

9. Capella University

Students attending Capella University wishing to work in educational administration pursue the Master of Science in Education degree with Leadership in Education Administration specialization. The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The M.S. in Education Leadership program is also nationally recognized by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council. G.I. Jobs Magazine recognized Capella for several consecutive years as a Military Friendly University. Capella was the first online university to receive the CHEA Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes. .

When surveyed, 93 percent of Capella graduates of the Master’s in Education programs reported overall satisfaction with their Capella experiences.

Tuition varies depending on the program; however, prospective students can easily calculate estimated tuition and fees on Capella’s site.

8. UMass Online

The University of Massachusetts offers an online Master’s Degree in Educational Administration (M.Ed.). The school even invites you to sample a course demo to help you get a feel for the program. Although students expect tuition to rise every year or so, tuition at UMass Online for graduate students is very low for each credit hour.

The University of Massachusetts is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The UMass Graduate School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). UMass ranks #19 among the highest-rated universities in the world by the Times of London. UMass also received the 21st Century Best Practices Award from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) and received an award for Excellence in Faculty Development from Sloan-C Excellence Awards.

7. Indiana University – Bloomington

At Indiana University Bloomington, students completing a Master’s degree have several options, one of which is sure to appeal to potential students, even those with a busy schedule.

Take your courses in a hybrid atmosphere, meaning some online and some classroom learning experiences or take the courses online. Indiana University – Bloomington offers several educational administration options. The M.S.Ed. Online prepares students for licensing as a building administrator in an educational setting and offers the option to become a teacher leadership specialist. In the hybrid M.S.Ed. The program, students, benefit from the face-to-face course meetings in addition to their online courses. Students may wish to pursue a specific “strand” such as School Law or Educational Organizations. If a student plans to continue their education past the master’s degree level, IU-Bloomington offers the Ph.D. in Educational Policy with Concentration in Educational Leadership.

The Indiana University Bloomington Department of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and North Central Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. IU-Bloomington ranks #25 in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools, Education, yet ranked #10 in Curriculum and Instruction, Education Policy and the Educational Administration and Supervision categories. Indiana University-Bloomington features low tuition, another great aspect to consider.

6. Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University offers the Specialist in Education degree with Educational Administration emphasis, allowing students up to six years to complete the degree. The degree prepares students to apply for a District Leadership (Superintendent) license from the State of Kansas. Students at FHSU also have the option to complete the Master of Science in Educational Administration (Principal) degree.

Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. FHSU is also accredited by NCATE. The Advanced Education Programs (AEP) at Fort Hays ranked #5 in the Best Online Graduate Education program for Veterans. The Best Schools ranked FHSU in the #16 spot for The Best Online Master’s of Education Administration Degree Programs in 2014.

5. University of Texas – Austin

The University of Texas at Austin ranks #3 by U.S. News & World Report for Best Grad Schools, Educational Administration, and Supervision and in the #10 spot for Best Grad Schools overall. UT at Austin also ranked #14 in the Kiplinger, 2015 Best-Value Public Colleges and at the #28 spot by the Times Higher Education 2014-2015 World University Rankings. The University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Students pursuing their Master’s degree through the University of Texas at Austin Department of Educational Administration have a few specialization options to choose from at the Master’s degree level. Students may also wish to continue their studies after obtaining their master’s degree by pursuing a Ph.D. or Ed.D degree, also available at the University of Texas at Austin.

4. University of Kansas

Designed to accommodate educators already working in the education field, the 36 credit hour Master’s in Educational Administration (Pk-12) is a blended program, combining classroom face-to-face sessions, online learning and field experiences. One feature of the KU Master’s in Educational Administration is what the school refers to as “two-for-one graduate program for aspiring educational leaders,” which means graduates complete requirements for the master’s degree and satisfy building-level administrative licensure requirements at the same time.

The KU program is accredited by NCATE Standards through the CAEP Accreditation System. The University of Kansas ranked in a three-way tie for #17 in the U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools. The University of Kansas ranked #9 among the Best School of Education (public) in the U.S.

Students wishing to continue their educational leadership education even further can do so at KU since the University of Kansas offers the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy with a concentration in educational administration.

3. University of Scranton

The University of Scranton offers the Master of Science in Educational Administration in a 39 credit hour program, giving students the opportunity to complete the M.S. program in “as little as 18 months.” Students complete two 150-hour practicums, one in elementary education and one at the secondary education level.

The University of Scranton is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Education programs at the University of Scranton are accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). The College of Graduate and Continuing Education is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The University of Scranton received numerous awards and recognition recently, including being recognized by U.S. News & World Report as an “Up-and-Comer,” one of only 45 colleges to receive such distinction. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the University of Scranton as #2 for Student Engagement and Accreditation. The school ranked in the top 20 for Faculty Credentials and Training. The University of Scranton also made the Forbes list of “America’s Best Colleges.”

2. Johns Hopkins University

For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Johns Hopkins University #1 in their Best Grad Schools list. The Johns Hopkins School of Education indicates that the Master of Science in Education School Administration and Supervision program is nationally recognized by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC). The Johns Hopkins School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The Master of Science in Education – School Administration and Supervision concentration prepares certified teachers and other certified education professionals to pursue leadership positions in kindergarten through grade 12 school settings as principal, department chair or coordinator positions, for instance, and is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for certification in administration and supervision, according to the Johns Hopkins School of Education site.

The Master’s degree program consists of just 39 credit hours and is “aligned with the nationally recognized Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards, as well as with the Maryland Instructional Leadership Framework outcomes.” Johns Hopkins also offers two doctoral programs for students wishing to continue educational administration beyond the master’s degree level.

1. Michigan State University

Michigan State University ranks in a tie for #13 in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Grad Schools and in the #8 place for Best Grad Schools for Educational Administration and Supervision by U.S. News & World Report. MSU earned “gold status” in the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s 2015 Veteran-Friendly School programs and ranked in the #11 position in the Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck.” Money magazine ranked Michigan State University among the best universities and colleges in the United States, based on cost, graduation rate, and ROI. MSU achieved numerous other high rankings from various sources that cite the best universities and colleges in the country and across the globe. Michigan State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Realizing that everyone cannot attend classes in one place at a set time, MSU offers the Master of Arts degree program in K-12 Educational Administration in three locations:

Michigan State University Main Campus in East Lansing
Seaholm High School – Birmingham, Michigan
MSU Detroit Center – Detroit, Michigan

One unique feature of the MSU Master of Arts in K-12 Educational Administration program that helps push Michigan State University to the top of the list is that the core classes at the MSU Detroit Center are “purposefully tailored to the particular needs of urban school leaders.”

All three Michigan State University sites allow students to attend part-time or full-time and utilize a hybrid format, with classes held in the evenings and online format. No more than six face-to-face meetings occur during a semester for those attending in a hybrid format. Graduates of the program qualify to apply for Administrator Certification with Elementary and Secondary Endorsements with the Michigan Department of Education. Another aspect of the program that puts MSU at the top of the list is student and faculty access to “Zoom,” which Michigan State describes as “an online communication tool that supports synchronous (meeting during scheduled times) online meetings for core instruction and collaborative group work.”

The doctoral program at MSU prepares those wishing to continue their advanced education the opportunity to become scholars and researchers in the field of education.